Hot Topics:

$200M slots parlor eyed for Boxboro

By Rick Sobey, rsobey@lowellsun.com

Updated:
05/09/2013 07:32:45 AM EDT

BOXBORO -- This small, quiet town with woods for endless acres could soon be the center of attention.

Boxboro, which has a "scenic, historical and rural character," according to the town website, could some day host a $200 million hotel and slot parlor in the woods called "Live! Hotel & Casino." The Cordish Companies, a Maryland casino developer, has proposed the gaming facility on a 20-acre parcel at the junction of Interstate 495 and Route 111.

This proposal, if it receives approval from town officials and residents, would compete for the only Massachusetts slot-parlor license against proposals in Plainville, Raynham and Worcester.

But some Boxboro residents don't believe the proposal will go very far. Jill Holt, while indifferent to the $200 million proposal, said voters will never let it happen.

Advertisement

"The community is very protective of what's done with the land," said Holt, who was at the library with her daughter on a rainy Wednesday morning. "People are heard pretty well around here, and I can't imagine it will pass. Think of all that traffic it would bring."

Other residents believe they should hear the full proposal and get an idea of how this proposal would impact their lives. Nancy Kumaraswami, who's lived in town for 20 years, would like to hear more information about the plan and how the towns with Cordish slot parlors have fared.

An artist's rendering of what the hotel common areas would look like at the proposed $200 million hotel and slots parlor proposed on the Holiday Inn site in Boxboro.
courtesy photo

"The initial reaction of most people is to reject it because they think of a negative casino stereotype, but you need to know exactly what you're accepting or rejecting," she said.

The Cordish proposal would renovate and expand the Boxboro Holiday Inn at the 20-acre parcel, which is tucked in the woods a half-mile back from Route 111. The hotel's restaurant and ballroom, which make up two-thirds of the current facility, would be demolished and replaced.

Under the proposal, the slot parlor would have many restaurants, an entertainment venue, meeting space and spa/fitness facilities. There would be as many as 1,200 slot machines and 750 employees.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Boxboro has 4,996 residents and the average household income is $147,625. Businesses are few and far between in the rural town, but technology company Cisco Systems, located next to the proposed site, highlights the town's industry.

Kumaraswami said there's "nowhere to eat around here," so new restaurants would be positive, and she would enjoy concerts at the slot parlor.

She also said that the "considerable amount of employment" would be a positive in this economy.

But Bravo Pizza co-owner Simon Exarhopulos said the employees wouldn't be from the Boxboro region. Exarhopulos, who's take-out restaurant at 1233 Massachusetts Ave. (Route 111) is a two-minute drive from the proposed site, said the employees would be coming from Worcester and Lowell because Boxboro residents need higher-paying jobs to live there.

Engineers, doctors and lawyers live in the area, said Exarhopulos, who's been at the Boxboro location for 24 years.

He also doesn't think a casino would bring more business to his restaurant since "they (gamblers) go to the casino and then leave."

"There's a great school system here, and it's a really safe community," he added. "You never hear about crime, but you know crime would go up with a casino."

But Boxboro Police Chief Warren Ryder said there's no evidence that a slot parlor would bring any additional crime. Ryder has reached out to police departments located in Cordish casino towns, and they said the crime rate actually dropped in the area; drug crimes and house break-ins surprisingly decreased.

Ryder spoke to the sheriff's office in Anne Arundel County, Md., which reported that Cordish has well-trained security personnel and cameras are everywhere.

"People with bad intentions would stay away from those places," Ryder said. "The sheriff's office had a very positive outlook on it and said Cordish was very responsible and had excellent communication with police."

Ryder asked the Maryland sheriff's office if the slot parlor was like a shopping mall, which frequently has crimes, shoplifting and assaults. But the sheriff's office said the slot parlor is different because there's an older demographic that "goes there for a specific reason, do what they want to do and then leave," Ryder said.

"A small-town police force isn't quite ready for the influx of population of a slot parlor, but it's nothing that couldn't be addressed moving forward," he added.

According to a written statement from Joe Weinberg, managing partner of The Cordish Companies, the Boxboro site is an "ideal location for a gaming, dining and entertainment destination. It's close to the major area highways, including 495, 90 and Route 2, and population centers. It's also ideally positioned to intercept customers heading north should gaming be legalized in New Hampshire.

"We look forward to working closely with Boxboro officials and residents in an open, transparent manner, as we move through the process."

Boxboro Town Administrator Selina Shaw said the Board of Selectmen is trying to seek input from residents on the proposal. She said a lot has come in already, but they haven't had a chance to review it.

"The town is doing its due diligence on this," Shaw said. "Selectmen will take stock of all that information and see where they are going to go from there."

Elaine Driscoll, director of communications for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, said the town needs to agree on a host agreement with the developer in order to move forward. Then, a referendum would be held within 60 days of the host agreement.

If selectmen move forward with the project, the Planning Board would also have to review any zoning bylaw issues; Town Meeting must approve any changes to zoning bylaws.

If the referendum passes and Cordish passes the background investigation conducted by the gaming commission, then Cordish would compete against proposals in Plainville, Raynham and Worcester for the slot license in early December.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Sign in with a Disqus account or your social networking account for your comment to be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (READ HOW.)
Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Sun. So keep it civil.